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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. MESTERN.

THBRMALBATTERY. No. 434,640. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. MESTERN.

THERMAL BATTERY.

1%. 434,640. Patented Aug. 19,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OE IcE.

HUGO MESTERN, OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

THERMAL BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,640, dated. August19, 1890. Application filed January 6, 1890. Serial No. 336,104. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HUGO MESTERN, a citizen of the Empire of Germany,residing at Munich, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, in said Empire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermo Electric andFurnace Batteries; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention has for its object to improve the devices described andshown in British Letters Patent No. 2,259, of February 14., 1888. As setforth in the specification of said patent, the invention covered therebyis for the purpose of rendering the elements of thermo-electricbatteries more capable of resisting high temperatures, thus obviatingthe various prejudicial effects otherwise attendant on their continuedexposure to great heat. As therein explained, I have heretofore attainedthis endby the peculiar construction and combination of the elements andby their relation to the furnace and cylinder or tube, serving for thecombustion of the fuel employed for actuating the battery.

Now, in order to admit of a more extended application of the principleof construction laid down in the specification referred to, I desire topoint out that the combustion-cylinder contained in the furnace maybeeither a basket-grating, as it is termed in the before-mentionedspecification, or a perforated cylinder for the combustion of liquidorgaseous fuel, or the cylinder may be solid on its circumference, andbe provided at thehottom with suitable inlets for supplying the liquidor gaseous fuel. The metallic deflectingstrips, which are preferablycast into the blocks or metal of the elements, may be made either of apiece of sufficient length to connect each two elements, or they may bemade separate and joined by means of any screw or other suitableconnecting device. These strips may, .however, be laid in a channel inthe center of the metal block, which is then formed in two halves, forthe purpose as hereinafter explained.

As the best mode of securing the protect ive mantle surrounding theinsulating-layer of each element to the metal block,I elect thefollowing: That part of the metal block which is surrounded by theasbestus or other insulatinglayer is made cylindrical or conical, so asto allow the insulating-tube, likewise'made cylindrical, to be closelyfitted over the same down to a shoulder, having a breadth equal to thethickness of the insulating-tube. The said shoulder forms the beginningor upper edge of another concentric cylinder for receiving the metaltube when shifted over the insulating-tube. This larger cylinder isprovided with a suitable screw-thread from top to bottom, and the metaltube, having a corresponding screw-thread formed therein, is screwedover the cylinder, so as to tightly surround the same and obviate anypenetration of fused metal. To increase the security against suchpenetration and insure an absolutely tight fit of the metal tube to theblock, the screw-threads may be coated with asbestus or any otherconvenient packing material. In consequence of this screwed connectionthe asbestus will be pressed tightly down over the cone or cylinder. Thescrew-threaded portion of the block ter minates at the shoulder part orbase of the electro-positive element. This base is made square toprovide greater heating-surface and facilitate the building up of theelements.

The thermo-electric batteries of my invention are applicable forproducing heat and electric light, and also for galvanic, medicinal, andvarious other purposes.

I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical section with partlyshown front elevation. Fig. 2represents a vertical section from front to rear on theline at 00 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 represents ahorizontal section on the line 00 m ofFig. 1. Fig. a represents in detail vertical section the hollow asbestuscovering of one of the softmetal electrodes. Fig. 5 represents a similarview of a conical case inclosing the same. Fig. 6 represents a verticalsection, on a larger scale, of a pair of the elements with theircovering, supports, and connections. Fig.7represents a plan view of apart of the supporting-frame. Figs. 8' and 9 are detail elevations ofdifferent forms of the metal block constituting one of the positiveelectrodes. Fig. 10 represents two detail sectional views of parts ofcells containing them being shown in vertical section.

A designates the exterior wall of a furnace having within it afire-chamber-Z, on the bottom of which is a receptacle B containingliquid fuel. Above the latter is a grate O, and obliquely above that aguard-grate 'D. In front of the latter there is a draft-outlet providedwith a cover E, which is made adjustable by a screw F extending inwardthroughv a fixed'plate G. By turning this cover and its screw the draftmay be increased or diminished at will.

A partition H separates the fire-chamber Z from the battery-chamber I, apassage H through said partition allowing the hot air to pass from theone chamber to the other.

As indicated in Fig. 3, there may be two or more fuel-receptacles with acorresponding number of grates. The pairs of electrodes, as shown'inFig. 3, are secured within rectangular recesses or apertures of one ormore frames h, and are connected to each other by strips n, ofconducting material, the final positive element of each series beingconnected by a conductor K to a circuit-wire L, and the correspondingnegative element being connected in each instance bya conductor K to acircuit-wire M.

The negative electrode of the elements consists of a metal block(cast-iron or the like) composed of the square base a, with ascrewshaped part a above which is a circular end piece a terminating inthe cone-point a. In this metal block is placed the conductingstrip u,either cast in, as shown in Fig. 8, or merely laid. in the aperture or,as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. In the latter case the negativeelectrode is formed in two parts I) and c. The half 0 contains theaperture (0 as an open channel extending straight down from the point tothe bottom of a, and then passing sidewise out to the edge of c, as inFig. 10. The flat conducting-strip a is laid in the channel, and then band c are brought closely together, so as to appear as one solidblock.'- To the bottom of this block b c the plated, Fig. 6, is screwedby the screws 6, so that they cannot be separated, as shown in Fig. 9.After the negative electrodes are thus formed in one of these ways andare fitted with their conducting-strips, as shown in Fig. 6, a hollowasbestus covering sleeve or tube f, Fig. 2, is cemented onto the part aof each electrode, and the conical case g, which is fitted with a femalescrew g, is screwed. over a and'a Through the screwing of the case gover a the asbestus block f has its lower end pressed firmly on thenegative electrode,

so that between the insulating-sleeve f and the parts a, a and a acomplete junction is effected. If now a row of such screwed elements isformed, the negative electrodes are turned, as Fig. 6 shows, standingnear each other vertically, so that the conducting-strips n have theirupper curved partterminating in the middle of the neighboring positiveelectrode. Now the fluid metal of the positive electrode formed of someeasily-fusible metal I (antimony, zinc, or alloys) is poured into theopening of the asbestus tube f and the row of elements is ready.

It should be noticed that. the elements as drawn are formed, preferably,of a conical shape, so that the positive electrode cannot fall out ofits inclosure; but'I claim the right a to use a cylindrical or otherform for the elements. It is also not necessary that the junction, ofthe two electrodes should be effected in the precise manner beforedescribed; nor

is it essential that the positive electrode should be firmly embedded,or that the negative el'ectrode should be screwed together, as shown,-

since any suitable modification of these methods could be employed.

In order to place together a large number of elements for a fumace-battery, the frame h is employed, which is constructed with squareapertures of a size to receive the square base a of the negativeelectrode, care being taken to place a non-conducting substance betweenthe elements and the frame h. g

In order to fasten securely the base a of the negative electrode inthe-aperture of the frame h, it is advisable .to form recesses t i inthe side of the base, Fig. 11. If then the base a is coated with somesuitable non-conducting cement-such as fire-clay and asbes'tus andpressed tightly into the opening, the cement stopping lying in therecess i will hold the element securely, so that it cannot fall out ofthe frame It, while at the same time a sufficient isolation is obtainedby the calking or packing of the cement, so that the firegases withwhich the negative electrode is being heated cannot penetrate.

In Figs. 1 and 3 will be seen how the single elements lie in the frameIt and are connected to a battery. Two frames are placed near together,as in Fig. 3, so that the space 70' is formed between them for thereception of the fire-gases which flow from the fire-chamberl, placedbefore the battery.

In the drawings the fire-chamber Z is so placed that the fire passesright and left into two flues, so that with one a double battery isheated. The fire-gases heat the ends of the negative electrodes and passthrough the channel It and the tube It to the chimney k Should thepositive electrode, throughthe heating of the furnace-battery, becomemelted at its point of connection with the negative electrode, no escapeof the melted metal or alloy can occur, owing to the formation of theasbestus sleeve f, the screw a ,and the protecting-mantle g, so that thepossibility of any break downin the elements is out of the question.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. In a thermo-electric or furnace battery, a pair ofelectrodes, one of which is provided with screw-threads engaging similarthreads on the casing or mantle of another electrode, substantially asset forth.

2. In a thermo-electric or furnace battery, an electrode having anasbestus covering and an exterior casing or mantle provided withscrew-threads, in combination with another electrode, which constitutesthe base for the former one and is screw-threaded to engage the threadedpart of said casing or mantle, substantially as set forth.

3. In a thermo-electric or furnace battery, an electrode consisting oftwo sections and recessed to receive a conductor between them, saidelectrode being provided with fastening devices for holding the sectionstogether and the conductor in place, substantially as set forth.

4. In a thermo-electric or furnace battery, in combination with the twosections 1) and c of an electrode and a conductor of electricity securedbetween them, a base-plate d, fastened to both of said sections, forthepurpose set forth.

5. In combination with elements of a thermo-electric or furnace battery,a frame h, having a number of openings, each of which is adapted toreceive one of said elements or pairs of electrodes, in order that thelatter may be conveniently cemented there, substantially as set forth.

6. In a thermo-electric or furnace battery, a furnace having afire-chamber and a battery-chamber with communication between them, incombination with a pair of frames arranged in said battery-chamber,leaving a space between them, in order that the negative elementssupported in said frames may be conveniently subjected to a current ofair of one temperature and the positive elements to a current of air ofanother temperature, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGO MESTERN.

W'itnesses:

EMIL HENZEL, EDW. W. MEALEY.

